Harold Meers
Tenor Harold Meers has rapidly established himself as one of the outstanding young American singers currently assaying the romantic Italian and French repertoire. With his foray into the master works of Donizetti, Gounod, Massenet, Puccini and Verdi, Mr. Meers has garnered the critical praise reserved for opera’s brightest hopefuls.
Since his professional debut with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Mr. Meers has frequented the principal lyric venues of North America, including bows with the San Francisco Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Baltimore Opera, New Orleans Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Boston Lyric Opera, Cleveland Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Opera Omaha and Virginia Opera, among others. Mr. Meers made his international debut with the Bangkok Opera as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte. Current engagements include a role debut as Nadir in Nashville Opera’s production of Les pêcheurs de perles; Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Opera Columbus; and a return to Minnesota Opera as Macduff in Macbeth.
The 2012–2013 season was punctuated by a return to Des Moines Metro Opera as Ruggero in a stunning production of Puccini’s rarely performed La rondine, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Amarillo Opera and Nashville Opera, and a role debut as Nadir in Nashville Opera’s production of Bizet’s Les pêcheurs de perles. Mr. Meers also participated in Minnesota Opera’s Opera Under The Stars parks concert this past summer, singing Rodolfo in La bohème. Orchestral engagements this season include Rachmaninoff’s The Bells, under the baton of John DeMain for Madison Symphony Orchestra, Verdi’s Requiem with Charleston Symphony Orchestra and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Alabama Symphony, with Michael Morgan conducting. Upcoming operatic engagements include a return as Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Columbus Opera and as Macduff in Macbeth with Minnesota Opera in early 2014.
Recent seasons have found the tenor with Piedmont Opera as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni before partnering Denyce Graves as Don José in Carmen with Opera Charleston for performances that garnered both critical and popular praise. Charleston’s Post and Courier declared, “Tenor Harold Meers offered a convincingly love-struck Don José; he sang with spinto passion and sounded great.” Accordingly, the City Paper said, “And, ah, the soloists! Collectively, they were easily on a par with the casts that grace many Spoleto productions. Tenor Harold Meers sang the role of jilted lover Don José to pearly-toned perfection, his slow buildup of seething rage reminding the audience what crimes of passion are all about.”
Mr. Meers was heard as Charles for the world premiere of Anton Coppola’s La coupe et les lèvres, in Handel’s Messiah with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra and Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Verdi’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Sarasota Orchestra. Mr. Meers reprised the Beethoven for a 75th season celebration with Charleston Symphony Orchestra. The 2010–2011 season was highlighted by performances of Rodolfo in La bohème for Sarasota Opera, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly for Helena Symphony Orchestra, Rodolfo in La bohème for Des Moines Metro Opera and an Italian opera gala with Southeastern Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra.
Of his San Francisco Opera debut in Billy Budd, the San Francisco Chronicle noted, “Cast standouts were many, especially tenor Harold Meers in a heartrending performance.” Accordingly, San Francisco Classical Voice said of the tenor, “It’s easy to predict that future stars of opera will refer to the San Francisco Billy Budd as their first role of note, especially Harold Meers.” Additional assignments with San Francisco Opera include Il trovatore, Turandot and the American premiere of Arshak Erkrord by Armenian composer Dikran Tchouhadjian. Recent engagements for the tenor include Narraboth in Salome with Opera Cleveland, the Duke in Rigoletto; Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Santa Barbara, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore with Chautauqua Opera and Alfredo in La traviata for Piedmont Opera. Past seasons include performances with Chautauqua Opera, Sacramento Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Toledo Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera, Piedmont Opera, West Bay Opera, Opera North, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, Fremont Symphony Orchestra, Helena Symphony Orchestra and the Sarasota Orchestra.
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